KEY POINTS:
A man and a woman charged with child abuse needed time to tell their family and church, a court has heard.
The couple, aged 27 and 30, was arrested on Monday and charged with wilfully neglecting their 18-month-old son, now in Starship Children's Hospital with a broken thigh and a broken arm -- injuries doctors said could have happened 10 days earlier.
In their first appearance in the Waitakere District Court today their lawyer Josie Fuimaono-Sapolu said some immediate members of their family had been told of the charges but the wider community and their church had not been told.
The woman had six children under nine and she was also worried how publication of her name would affect her children at school.
She also worked with people, mainly women, and publication of her name could affect her job.
Judge Phil Recordon said public interest in the issue of child abuse was very high and the public had a right to know.
He said recent Law Commission research had shown publication of names had little effect on a jury's ability to conduct an impartial trial.
There were no compelling or special reasons to depart from the media's right of freedom of expression and ability to report.
However, he said the names of the couple could not be published before 4pm on Monday to give them time to lodge a High Court appeal against his ruling and tell other members of the community.
The couple was remanded on bail to appear again on August 30.
- NZPA
